Capsule Wardrobe Update: Eleanor's Spring Capsule

Earlier this year, I wrote a 3-part series about my recent experiment with capsule wardrobes: why I did it, how I did it, and what I learned. While many of you seemed to like the idea of capsules and the posts themselves, a common comment was that you'd prefer to see real-life examples of what a capsule wardrobe looks like— i.e., my own wardrobe. Gulp.

There were a few reasons I didn't do this the first time around. Firstly, a fashion model I am not (I believe we can all agree that these photos reach new levels of Awkward). But also, my goal with the capsule wardrobe series was to show how the idea can work for anyone— it's not about particular items or a particular style, but about the process.

Having said that, you asked to see what I'm wearing and I'm here to show you. I recently re-jigged my wardrobe for spring, and created, with a modicum of shopping and a great deal of rotating what I already own, a new 35-piece wardrobe. Without further ado, here's everything I'm wearing from April to June.

Bottoms

from left: 1. Black skinny jeans, Levi's. Worn pretty much 2-3 times a week since I bought them two years ago, and part of every capsule I've made so far. 2. Blue skinny jeans, Second Yoga.3. Distressed blue boyfriend jeans, Gap. For weekends and especially casual Fridays.

from left: 4. Chambray drawstring trousers, Baukjen. If jeans and sweatpants had a love child, these would be it.5. Zebra-print pleated trousers, In Wear.6. Black pleated trousers, Theory. For weekdays and weekends alike.

from left: 7. Leather drawstring mini, Norr. Bought on a trip to Copenhagen last year and a mainstay in my wardrobe ever since. 8. Grey quilted pencil, Whistles. Feel like sweatpants, look like snakeskin. What's not to love?

Layers

clockwise from top left: 22. Long black cardigan, In Wear. For battling office air-conditioning. 23. Black cotton sweater, Gap.24. Black blazer, In Wear. For when I have to bring the business and look the part.25. Black open knit sweater, Bird (brand discontinued). This one's a hand-me-down from my bff (yay for free clothes!).

Outerwear

clockwise from top left:26. Black leather jacket, Whistles. Bought with money from my first ever freelance design gig. 27. Blue rain jacket, YMC.28. Cotton military jacket, Whistles. Truthfully, this jacket (another sale steal) has been worn nearly to death and I fear its time is drawing near... but I'll try to get another three months out of it.29. Denim jacket, Levi's.

A Few Key Looks

You can tell I took this reeeeally seriously... I'd wear this to the office on an average day, or on the weekend for brunch.

So there it is: my 35-piece wardrobe and just some of the ways I'll be wearing it until July. This was my third capsule so I was used to the process by now, and loved bringing out some of my warmer-weather items from storage. Things marked with an *asterisk were purchased new for this capsule, and you'll notice that there are only four of them (I'm still on a money-saving kick over here).

As usual, this capsule doesn't cover underwear, sleepwear, accessories, workout gear or anything necessary for one-off events (for instance, I have a separate mini "Glastonbury Capsule", which I break out every June... think lace, sequins and neon).

The challenge this time around was to do with weather, and the uncertainty of this time of year. Here in the UK June might be cold and rainy, but it could also be hot and sunny. I've decided not to stress about it; I've tried to include a mix of cooler- and warmer-weather items, but it won't be the end of the world (or the capsule system) if I have to sub a pair of ankle boots for some sandals in another months' time.

Until then, I'm neither shopping nor worrying about what to wear in the mornings.